by Kate Ready
There are many unique things Jackson Hole has to offer for visitors to do year-round, including a covered wagon cookout, trail rides, checking out the heavens at a mountain summit observatory and planetarium, dog sledding, a vintage boat trip, a distillery tour and more. Whether you're coming out to the Tetons in the winter or summer, our list should be your ultimate guide for indulging in more than the expected activities.
1. Chuckwagon Dinner Ride
What could be more Wild, Wild West than rolling across the sage flats that flank the Tetons in a covered wagon, pulling into camp for a home-cooked Dutch oven dinner before enjoying some boot-stomping cowboy music. The answer is, probably not much.
The Bar T 5 Covered Wagon Cookout and Show offers just such a unique and unforgettable experience for your visit to Jackson Hole. Travel by horse-drawn covered wagon for a three-hour evening dinner and show that will whisk you away into beautiful Cache Creek Canyon. Enjoy a full evening of great entertainment, western hospitality, and a dinner that will tantalize your taste buds.
Couples, families and individuals of all ages can enjoy this unforgettable evening of western adventure and hospitality.
For more information and reservations, visit bart5.com or call 307-733-5386.
2. North Fork Trail Rides
Take a secluded, off-the-beaten-path horseback ride with North Fork Trail Rides, just south of Teton Pass, 19 miles southwest of Jackson.
The rides offer some of the most breathtaking scenery you will find anywhere. From 360-degree views of the Snake River Valley and the Teton Mountain Range to shady forest trails, flower-filled meadows and exciting water crossings.
There are trails for all levels, from beginner riders to the more experienced. Group sizes range from two to eight riders and North Fork strives to give each person a personalized horseback riding experience. Ages for riders is 6 years and up for a 1-hour ride. Kids age 8 and up can go on a 2-hour or half-day ride and riders 10 years old and up can experience the all-day ride. For more information and reservations, call 307-699-4415 or visit northforktrailrides.com
In addition to providing trail rides, North Fork Trail Rides now offers a one-of-a-kind Wyoming wilderness adventure through its sister company, Glamping of Jackson Hole. Glamping of JH features lifted African safari-style tents, complete with memory foam beds, real furnishings, cozy bedding, solar lighting and a wood-burning stove to keep you warm on cool mountain nights.
For information and reservations, call 307-699-4415 or visit glampingofjacksonhole.com.
3. Marvel at the Heavenly Skies
Jackson Hole’s best new attraction to top off your day is Snow King Mountain's brand-new Observatory and Planetarium—the only observatory on a North American ski area.
The state-of-the-art observatory features a large (one meter) Plane Wave telescope available for public observation via on-site staff all day and into the evening. The telescope rests on a 20-foot concrete pier anchored in the earth and isolated from the greater structure to prevent vibrations from disrupting its position.
The 4,400-square-foot observatory is reachable via Snow King's Gondola and features a 35-seat planetarium space theater and a 40-seat auditorium for group presentations and learning opportunities. Adjacent to the 24-foot dome is a rooftop observation deck where portable telescopes can be set up for additional viewing during astronomical events such as meteor showers.
Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or a curious novice, there’s something here for everyone to marvel at and explore.
4. Continental Dog Sled Adventures
Hurtle through the snowy landscape at breakneck speed and experience the exhilaration of mushing a dog sled team along on this incredible journey across the Continental Divide. The Continental Divide Dogsled Adventures offers half-day trips, overnight trips and multiple night excursions to fit your sense of adventure. Take a break from the ski slopes and feel what it's like to mush a dog sled team all on your own or lie back in the wrapped-up warm pouch of the sled as you hurtle through the snow-laden landscape at amazing speed.
The company provides expert guidance, transportation, meals, lodging, equipment and the exhilaration of mushing on the Continental Divide in the Jackson Hole area. You can always take a break and lie back in the wrapped-up pouch of the sled. But definitely ask to take a turn mushing. There's nothing quite like it!
Bred from the finest bloodlines and fresh from the top endurance races in North America, these dogs will not lead you astray.
Mush on and book your adventure from mid-December through the end of March. Email info@dogsledadventures.com or call 307-851 6539
5. Vintage Wooden Boat Trip
If you’re looking to immerse yourself in a bygone era, enjoy a locally sourced gourmet meal with gorgeous views and view wildlife far from the crowds, Jackson Hole Vintage Adventures offers a luxurious experience by marrying their scenic boat tours with an open-air, fine-dining repast amidst spectacular views of the Tetons.
In the summer months, float either in the morning or later in the evening for a pristine adventure piloted by guides with decades of experience on the water who will share their passion for the ecology of the Snake River. The beautiful wooden vessel you’ll venture in was born on the banks of the McKenzie River in Oregon in the 1940s. Over time, the design migrated east to the great rivers of the Intermountain West. Nowadays, you may find these boats built out of plastic, fiberglass, or aluminum, but none of those carry the warmth and soul of the authentically hand-built boat the Jackson Hole Vintage Adventures fleet is comprised of.
This is a fine dining experience that is not to be missed.
In the winter, Jackson Hole Vintage Sleigh Rides provides several private tours, including dinner and lunch rides, for a truly unique Jackson Hole winter experience. A team of Draft horses draws vintage sleighs and provides a serene and nostalgic way to enjoy a ride through Cottonwood forests to the banks of the Snake River which affords many opportunities for viewing wildlife and the magnificent mountain scenery of the Jackson Hole Valley.
Call 307-732-2628 to book your tour or visit jhvintageadventures.com.
6. Walking Tour of Historic Jackson Hole
Join the History Jackson Hole staff and volunteers for an hour-long walking tour of historic downtown Jackson where you’ll learn about Jackson Hole’s historic buildings and colorful characters that helped sculpt the face of Jackson.
Tour guides will provide an in-depth background on the town of Jackson and its influence on the valley of Jackson Hole and Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.
Tours—which happen rain or shine—typically begin at the end of May and continue through September and are offered Wednesday, Thursday and Friday starting at 10:30 a.m. Meet at the museum and store's new campus at 175 East Broadway, just two blocks off Town Square. Tours cost $12 for adults and $10 for seniors, students and retired military members.
Call 307-733-2414 or visit jacksonholehistory.org for more information.
7. Tour Grand Teton Distillery
Drink in the work ethic of the western frontier with the sustainably produced libations sourced from local Idaho potatoes and pure glacier water fresh off the Tetons at Grand Teton Distillery, located in Driggs, Idaho, just over Teton Pass from Jackson. Offering a new cherry-flavored vodka as well as award-winning bourbon and whiskies, a visit to Grand Teton Distillery will soon have you agreeing with the locals that “today’s snow is tomorrow’s spirits,” as the saying goes at the distillery.
Grand Teton Distillery produces a huckleberry-infused vodka, the double gold medal-winning Colter’s Run Bourbon, Catamount Whiskey, Gamekeeper Whiskey as well as a selection of malt whiskeys.
A new 2,000-square-foot tasting room allows you to enjoy the award-winning spirits and try out the newest selections.
Tasting and tours are available by appointment. Call 208-354-7263 to book your visit.
Additionally, you can try the distillery's locally crafted cocktails at these restaurants while visiting Jackson: Gather, Silver Dollar Bar, The Million Dollar Cowboy Bar and the Spur Bar.
8. Snowmobile in Yellowstone National Park
Ditch the crowds —heck, ditch the car—and hop on to this once-in-a-lifetime experience to see Yellowstone National Park as very few do, courtesy of Scenic Safaris’ snowmobile tours.
Fun fact: Yellowstone limits how many snowmobiles can be in the park each day (ie. no more than 500) so zip along through the pristine, snow-covered wilderness roads feeling about as alone as Lewis and Clark must have felt. (Okay, maybe not that alone, but you get the picture).
Jump aboard this 12-hour all-day, round-trip adventure and check it off your bucket list. While bison, bald eagles and the occasional river otter will be the primary wildlife you’ll encounter inside the park itself, an appearance by elk or moose outside the park boundaries is certainly not at all out of the question.
Tours run mid-December through mid-March. Contact: 307-734-8898 or visit scenic-safaris.com.
9. Exum Family Rock Climbing Adventure
Rappel your way to great memories with this up close and personal adventure by diving into one of Jackson Hole’s favorite local past times: rock climbing. The oldest and most experienced guide service in North America (yes, you read that right), the rock climbing guides at Exum consistently have the same question at the end of each day: whether the parents or kids had more fun.
Join them for their most popular offering of a Family Climbing day at their Hidden Falls climbing area or just register the kids for a day exploring in the Tetons they’ll never forget. But watch out, they may catch the climbing bug.
Families must have at least one child under the age of 14 to sign up for this program and kids must be 7 or older to go without a parent. For older kids, opt for Exum's Custom Climbing program. The day can include instruction if desired, or can simply be a day of supervised climbing and rappelling. The entire day will be gloriously customized around your family’s abilities and wishes—it can be a mellow climbing day including many breaks or can be a non-stop, heart-pounding challenge depending on your family.
All rates include necessary technical climbing gear and shoes. Call 307-733-2297 or visit exumguides.com.
10. 'Snap' Back in Time With Judge Roy Bean’s Old Time Photos
Your Christmas card just got a whole lot better. Stand out from the crowd and take home an Old West heirloom courtesy of Judge Roy’s, just seconds from Town Square in Gaslight Alley.
Relive the Old West in one of two scenes: Old West Saloon or Teton Homestead. Judge Roy’s boasts a large selection of costumes for each era and the portraits are ready in mere minutes.
Pricing is $15 per person. Group pricing is also available. Walk in or reserve a time.
Call 307-739-2326, visit judgeroy.com or email jhinfo@judgeroy.com
11. Fire Up the Family with the Jackson Hole Shooting Experience
Looking to experience an authentic Wild, Wild, West shootout complete with your very own cowboy revolver? Paired with your personal coach, get some bang for your buck with this one-of-a-kind opportunity to fire a smorgasbord of historical and contemporary rifles, pistols, shotguns and bows, or try your hand at tomahawks and Western throwing knives.
The Jackson Hole Shooting Experience’s pro team brings an entirely unique afternoon with offerings that bridge the gap between history and modern times. Each experience is tailored to your specific family or group to design an exclusive, unforgettable afternoon of both empowering and educational fun for the whole family. In fact, Jackson Hole Shooting Experience is rated No. 1 on Trip Advisor for “Fun and Games in Jackson Hole.”
Ages: 8 years old and up
Firearms familiarity needed: None
Length of time of Multi-Gun Rifle & Pistol Experience: Approx. 3 hours
Cost: $1,200 for first two participants; $250 for additional shooters
For more information and to book your own experience, call 307-690-7921 or visit shootinjh.com
12. Visit the National Fish Hatchery
Open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., except on federal holidays, the National Fish Hatchery welcomes visitors for a close-up view of the fish production process. Located on the beautiful National Elk Refuge, the hatchery rears trout for a distribution area encompassing close to 18,000 square miles in western Wyoming and eastern Idaho.
With approximately 10,000 visitors annually, observe fish in several indoor tanks and view photographic displays of spawning and stocking. You’ll also have a chance to shore up your knowledge on local animals, fishing and aquatic invasive species. Jackson’s National Fish Hatchery was originally established in 1950 as part of the Palisades Dam Act to improve fish populations along the headwaters of the Snake River. The hatchery's primary emphasis is producing fish to mitigate for losses from Federal water development projects and to provide for states, tribes, and research facilities.
For fishing enthusiasts, Sleeping Indian Pond on hatchery grounds is very popular for public enjoyment. The half-acre pond has a disability-accessible observation/fishing deck that is available to anglers daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The pond is an excellent place for children and first-time anglers, whether it be fly fishing or just an old-fashioned worm. Non-resident children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult with a license. There is a one fish limit per license. Wyoming fishing regulations apply. Equipment and licenses are not available on-site.
13. Paragliding
“Jump” off a mountain and soar like an eagle above the Tetons with Jackson Hole Paragliding. Adrenaline junkies will enjoy this lightweight, free-flying, tandem experience.
All JHPG tandem pilots are certified Professional USHPA tandem instructors and experienced mountain pilots. Who can do it? Guests must be age 14 and up, not weigh more than 220 pounds and be physically fit enough to run. You’ll launch from the top of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Grand Targhee Resort or several hike-and-fly locations in and around Jackson Hole.
It is suggested that you wear a warm fleece and a windbreaker or shell, long pants, sneakers or other sturdy, closed-toe shoes. And bring your camera or smartphone! Tandem flights are available from early summer until the first week October and in the late winter through the first week in April.
The cost to fly is $495. Find your wings in Wyoming! For reservations contact the office at 307-739-2626, visit jhparagliding.com or email mountainsports@jacksonhole.com.
Bonus Thing To Do
Consider volunteering during your visit. Being Wild Jackson Hole allows you to participate in one of many volunteer opportunities in summer, hosted by local nonprofit and government organizations.
Spend a day in the field removing wildlife fencing, learn about bird banding, hike through Grand Teton National Park collecting native seeds or counting wildflowers.
For more information, visit beingwildjh.com or call 307-739-0969.
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